"Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., is proposing an amendment to expand the Indian grave-protection law so it can be applied to any skeletal remains no matter how old or disconnected from modern tribes.

The argument by Rob Roy Smith, attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, that "something that is indigenous . . . cannot lose indigenousness over time" may be technically correct.

But the law was designed to honor spiritual beliefs about how ancestral remains should be handled. Those beliefs vary from tribe to tribe. It honors no one to if such beliefs are generalized and extended so far into prehistory that information about the origins of the human race goes unexamined."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Bones of contention (The Arizona Republic 10/15)

Relevant Documents:
S.2843 | Public Law 101-601: NAGPRA | Senate Testimony | 2004 NAGPRA Report

Court Decision:
BONNICHSEN v. US (February 4, 2004)

Relevant Links:
Kennewick Man, Department of Interior - http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/kennewick
Friends of America's Past - http://www.friendsofpast.org
Kennewick Man Virtual Interpretive Center, The Tri-City (Washington) Herald - http://www.kennewick-man.com

Related Stories:
Editorial: Campbell's two words of mischief in NAGPRA (10/13)
Editorial: Campbell should not interfere with NAGPRA (10/05)
Campbell-backed bill adds two words to NAGPRA (10/1)
Battle over Kennewick Man study far from over (08/02)
Editorial: Let Kennewick Man speak! (say what?) (07/22)
Column: Kennewick Man belongs to everyone (7/21)
Tribes to seek restrictions on Kennewick Man study (7/20)
Tribes drop Kennewick Man claim in court (7/20)
Repatriation process criticized at Senate hearing (07/15)
Editorial: It's about time Kennewick Man case ends (04/29)
Tribes debate next step in Kennewick Man case (04/27)
Kennewick rehearing denied (4/21)
Court rules scientists can study Kennewick Man (02/05)
Kennewick Man battle back in court (9/8)
Tribes file opening brief in Kennewick Man case (03/19)
Appeals court asked to stop Kennewick Man tests (01/23)
Norton treads uncharted waters over remains (4/11)